Touring Pro
Verified status for touring professionals with 3+ years of experience in the entertainment industry.
What is Touring Pro?
Touring Pro is a verified badge awarded to professionals who have spent years on the road in the entertainment industry. It recognizes your expertise and gives your voice more weight in the RiderReady community.
This isn't about gatekeeping—it's about signal. When you're researching gear, you want to know if a review comes from someone who's actually used it under show conditions, not just unboxed it in a warehouse. The Touring Pro badge tells the community: “This person has done the work.”
Benefits
Instant SoftPatch Publishing
Skip the approval queue. Your gear and space listings on SoftPatch go live immediately—no waiting for moderator review.
Verified Badge
The green Touring Pro badge appears on your profile, reviews, and SoftPatch listings—instantly communicating your credibility.
Reviews Carry Weight
Your fixture reviews are highlighted and prioritized. Fellow pros can trust your opinions come from real show experience.
Community Trust
Build connections with fellow verified pros. Your experience is recognized and your contributions valued.
Requirements
3+ Years Touring Experience
Professional touring experience in lighting, audio, video, rigging, backline, or production management. Corporate AV, regional gigs, and festival work all count.
Verifiable Proof
Provide a link to verify your experience. We accept:
- •LinkedIn – Profile showing touring/production roles
- •Instagram – Professional account with show photos/credits
- •Portfolio – Personal website or online resume
- •Other – IMDB, Crew Nation, or other industry profiles
RiderReady Account
You need a free RiderReady account to apply. Create one here if you haven't already.
Note: We review applications manually to ensure quality. Most applications are processed within 24-48 hours. We may reach out for additional verification if needed.
What Counts as “Touring”?
We use a broad definition. If you've been doing production work professionally for 3+ years, you likely qualify:
QUALIFIES
- ✓ Concert/festival touring
- ✓ Theater/Broadway productions
- ✓ Corporate events & AV
- ✓ Broadcast & film production
- ✓ House tech at venues
- ✓ Rental house technicians
- ✓ Production management
- ✓ Freelance production work
DOESN'T QUALIFY
- ✗ DJ gigs without production
- ✗ Hobbyist/home studio only
- ✗ Student work (unless paid)
- ✗ YouTube content creation
- ✗ Sales/marketing roles
Not sure? Apply anyway—we'll review and let you know.
Touring Pro vs Contributor
These are separate designations that stack together:
Touring Pro
Who you are. A badge recognizing your professional experience. Any user can apply regardless of role.
Contributor
What you do. A role that lets you add and edit fixtures in the database. Requires Touring Pro status to apply.
You can be a Touring Pro without being a Contributor (just use the platform), or be both (help build the database). Learn more about roles.
Ready to Apply?
If you've got 3+ years in the industry and can verify your experience, we want you in the community.
FAQ
Is Touring Pro free?
Yes, completely free. It's a verification of your experience, not a subscription.
How long does approval take?
Usually 24-48 hours. We review applications manually to maintain quality.
What if I get rejected?
You'll receive a message in your terminal mailbox explaining why. Most rejections are due to insufficient proof—you can reapply with additional documentation like a LinkedIn profile or portfolio.
Can I lose Touring Pro status?
Only for serious violations of community guidelines. Normal account activity won't affect your status.
I have 2 years experience. Can I still apply?
We require 3+ years, but if you're close and have strong credentials, apply anyway—we review case by case.